Mini MAC Haul

It was my 21st birthday on April 16 and to celebrate, I met up with my mum in Manchester. Although I had asked for money towards a car, I decided to spend a little bit of it. I hadn't tried a new makeup product for a while and with summer round the corner, I felt I needed a seasonal uplift. My Auntie had booked me in at MAC to have a makeover and then receive store credit to spend on anything I liked.

The first thing I wanted was a more bronzey blush as I always opt for those which are matte and orange-based. The above photo makes me look quite tanned but don't let it fool you - there isn't even a hint of sunkissed colour in my cheeks. I went for Cheeky Bronze which I actually have found works as a highlighter if lightly applied. The product lasts all day without using a setting spray or powder and the colour is really beautiful and rather natural despite the shimmer.

When I picked this, the lady also told me I could use it as a bronzer but I much prefer a natural, matte bronzer which isn't too dissimilar to my natural skin colour. It was £23, but as I don't wear makeup everyday it will last me a long time. I'm not into the whole Kardashian contour look. In fact, I'm not so sure I even suit it... Which leads me on to my next purchase.

I picked up one of the natural mineralise skinfinish powders in the colour Medium Golden. Again, this was £23 but should last me a while unless I get a little brush-happy and annihilate it.  It sets my foundation beautifully and I've even used it as a light bronzer to add slight colour to my cheeks when I'm not wearing a base.

The next few products are (surprise, surprise) for my lips.

I was actually bought these as a gift from my stepsisters. The first is a Cremesheen lipstick in the colour Pure Zen. It cost £15.50 (I looked it up).

I'm sorry for the bad picture - it isn't metallic like the picture below looks but it does have the slightest shimmer which looks far more like a glossy shine.

Pure Zen is actually a frosty, warm-toned nude. The Cremesheen lipsticks have a rich creamy texture and a great colour payoff. 

The next colour is MAC Red from the Satin collection. Again, this was £15.50. I have never bought a Satin but I definitely would now I have tried it. MAC Red is a blueish-red shade and semi-matte. It lasts longer than the Cremesheen but not quite as long as the Retro Mattes. It doesn't bleed into the skin around your lips - an issue I often have.

The final thing in the haul is a £12.50 lip liner in the shade Redd. It goes perfectly with the MAC Red lipstick (above). It's super long-lasting and helps the lipstick to stay on for longer. I usually fill in my entire lip as well as lining the outside just to keep it on longer and help the colour pop.

Urban Decay Pulp Fiction Mrs. Mia Wallace lipstick review

Like most people, I've been itching to get my hands on the Urban Decay Pulp Fiction range which hit America months ago. 

I went into my local Debenhams today to visit the Urban Decay counter and found that they had completely run out of the Mrs. Mia Wallace Revolution Lipstick which I the item I had most been looking forward to! The woman was new on the job and she tried to offer me similar colours from their normal range but I have to admit, I didn't want to even consider them. I love Pulp Fiction. It's definitely in my top 3 favourite films (along with A Clockwork Orange and all of the Lord of the Rings films... Or does that make it my top 5?).

Whilst she was looking at other colours, she came across one final lipstick which had fallen to the bottom of the drawer! Of course, I instantly bought it.

The lipstick retails at £15 and it is one of those "get it before it's gone" items - they won't be making any more once stock has gone, which is unfortunate because I would definitely buy this again.

The packaging is amazing. I really should have taken some more photos to show you the shimmery black tube. Never mind.

It's a very classic shade of dark red but somehow, it definitely has the edge over all other dark red lippies that Urban Decay sell (or maybe I'm just biased). I don't like glossy looks and this certainly isn't glossy but it does have a nice shine and the pigmentation is incredible. I have only just bought this item but I have had it on my lips for the past 2 hours and it hasn't budged despite me dunking biscuits in my tea.

My Instagram Diary

This idea is not my own. I have been sat all morning trying to think of a blog post - massive writer's block alert! This Instagram Diary idea came from an old Zoella post, which popped into my head whilst I was browsing at tops on http://www.zara.com/uk/. I haven't seen her post one for a while, but I used to enjoy them. So, I thought I would make a nice and pretty post by putting up a few of my Instagram snaps from the past few months.

Instagram username: @fluxandflo 

⁕ My once favourite necklace and top ⁕ Myself as Alex DeLarge with a stranger as Doctor Zoidberg on Halloween ⁕ Glass of mulled wine on bonfire night ⁕

⁕Before work at Topshop ⁕ Black coffee before the gym ⁕Bangerz and a new gym top ⁕

⁕Curly hair! ⁕ The Warehouse Project ⁕ My BFF and I in London ⁕

⁕ half my face #selfie ⁕ A friend and I on a night out in the student union ⁕ We found a plastic polar bear ⁕

⁕ Pretty Lauren and friend haha ⁕ Same friend and I ⁕ Game of Thrones book ⁕

⁕ Adventure Time comics ⁕ My sister and I on xmas day ⁕ Game of Thrones and tea at my dad's house ⁕

⁕ Before my static line parachute jump ⁕ Watching Harry Potter in the bath ⁕ Homemade Piña Colada ⁕

⁕ Green tea ⁕ Customised folder ⁕ Changing room selfie ⁕

⁕Night Venus choker ⁕ Flower bib necklace ⁕ my nail polish collection AFTER clear out ⁕

⁕ Spyro 2 ⁕ My makeup for the evening ⁕ New COMPANY magazine ⁕

Hope you enjoyed this post. I may possibly do more in the future, but they will be a little bit smaller than this!

If you fancy following me on Instagram, my username is 

@fluxandflo

I hate and love my sensitive skin

If you have sensitive skin, you'll already know how difficult it can be to maintain a fresh and glowing look.

My skin isn't quite as bad as it once was and I definitely know that other people have it a lot worse. But, if you have sensitive skin, you'll probably know which products you can use and which you can't and you will stick to those.

Having sensitive skin is the bane of my life! I recently spent a fair amount of money on Estée Lauder lotions and potions and have had to give away two of the four products! I usually don't try products because I'm too scared to part with the little money that I have on products that may cause a break-out.

For years, I have stuck to The Body Shop's moisturiser and toner from their aloe vera range, but not the cleanser because that makes my skin flare. I use the cleaner from Simple and an exfoliator from the vitamin E range in Superdrug. I have spent a ridiculous amount of money on foundation. For the first 19 years of my life, I tried every brand of foundation over the counter. I would either get instant irritation or be lured into a false sense of security, believing that I had finally found THE foundation for me, only to wake up covered in flaky red rashes all over my cheeks, chin and forehead.

About a month after my 19th birthday (bearing in mind that I am not even 20 yet), I finally tried MAC's Prep & Prime BB cream and their Studio Fix Powder Plus foundation. I can wear it for a few days until my skin starts to dry out - but I never get a red rash! It's a bonus that the BB cream is slightly tinted since I can't wear false tan either!

But having sensitive skin isn't all that bad. It took me 19 years to realise that growing up and going through your teenage years never be able to wear makeup and not being able to use any shower gels that you got for presents isn't all that bad! I'm actually almost HAPPY that I have sensitive skin now. I feel like I'm part of a rare group of girls who will happily go for weeks without wearing any makeup at all. I will go to lectures, shopping and even work without wearing even mascara. People always say I have a "fresh" look. I love that I can spend more time making my outfit look amazing instead of focusing on my face. I love going all out for events like nights out and birthdays and I get some lovely compliments when I do because people aren't used to seeing me that way.

I love my skin being sensitive for the confidence and originality it has given me. But I hate it because it costs a lot to find the right products.
The most important part is to listen to your skin. Don't over-treat any out-breaks but don't be afraid to try new products, if that is what you want (just be prepared to look a little blotchy if things go wrong).

And for those who wear makeup everyday, why not try going bare-faced for a few days?! It's not as scary as it sounds!